Snow plow



Patented Dec. 28, 1937 `UNITED STATES PATEN'II OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in snow plows adapted to beconnected to the forward end of a motor truck, tractor or the like. The

invention pertains more particularly to a novel attachment means for`operatively connecting a push snow plow to a motor vehicle and which isespecially adapted to be used in connection with a snow plow of theone-way type wherein the mold board is arranged diagonally across thedirection of travel of the vehicle to extend at opposite sides of thelongitudinal center line of the vehicle for deiiecting the snow and icelaterally to one side of the road bed.

Snow plows `of the above mentioned class are often operated for longdistances at relatively high speed overwidely varying road conditions.

During such use, various obstacles such as manhole covers, car tracks,raised paving blocks, etc.,

often project into the pathof movementA of the 0 snow plow so that whenencounteredthereby,

subject the snow plow and the operating machine therefor to more or lesssevere shocks and mechanical stresses.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simpleystrong andeiicient means for operatively supporting a snow plow mold board in suchmanner that the road shocks and mechanical stresses incident to the usethereof will be reduced to a minimum. 4

In carrying out the above mentioned object, I have provided a supportingor push frame of light, rigid construction which is provided with groundengagingl elements for supporting the same upon the road bed. This frameis operatively connected to the chassis frame of a motor vehicle bysuitable push bars which are pivotally connected with said chassis frameto permit free vertical movement of the supporting frame as the samerides along the road bed.- The mold board of the plow is pivotallyconnected to the supporting or push frame by drive links and a brace barin such a manner as to permit the mold board lto swing verticallyvrelative tothe supporting frame.

Another important object of this invention is to so arrange theconnections of the drive links with the mold board and the supportingframe that when the lower cutting edge of the mold board encounters anunusual obstruction, the

ward so as to lift the cutting edge of the mold board above theobstruction and to pass over said obstruction with a minimum amount ofshock to the mold board and the supporting and propelling meanstherefor.

mold board will be caused to move vertically up- A more specific objectof the invention is to provide means for yieldingly urging the moldboard to its lowermost operative position, l

Another specific object of the invention resides in providing simple andeficient means for limitcient means whereby the force for yieldingly4maintaining the mold board 'in its lowermost operative position may bevaried to eliminate undesirable vibration or chattering of the moldboard when operating in heavy ysnow or ice and to permit easy operationof the mold board when con-l tacting stationary objects during operationin light snow.

A still further object is to provide asnow plow attachment mechanismwhereby either end portion of the plow mold board may, upon,encountering an unusual obstruction, rise independently of the other endportion thereof.

Yet another object. is to provide an adjustable brace bar for varyingthe vertical angle of inclination of the mold board whereby the lowercutting edge of the mold board may be raised or lowered relative to thesupporting frame to effect cutting of ice and snow from the road bed ata predetermined level and also to compensate for wear of the cuttingedge.

In other words, I have sought t bring `the lower edge and axis ofmovement of the mold board in relatively close proximity to the roadengaging elements of the supporting frame so that when the mold board isadjusted to bring its lower edge more or less closely to the surface ofthe road, the mold board will be carried by the supporting frame in saidadjusted relation and at the same time, the mold board is .free to move'upwardly relative to the supporting or push frame to permit the freeedge of the mold board to pass over an unusual obstacle projecting abovethe normal path of movement oi the cutting edge of the mold board andthen to return to its lowermost operative position directly after having'passed said obstacle. and to also prevent rebound of the mold boardafter having encountered such an obstacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eiilcientmeans for elevating the-supporting frame 'and the mold board carriedthereby to maintain the snow plow in an inoperative position duringtransportation.

Other objects and `advantages relating -to the specic parts of the snowplow will be brought out in the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved plow and the front end ofa motor truck to which it is attached, the plow being in its lowermost,operative position. f

`Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken. on line 2-2, Figure3.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view partly in top plan takensubstantially in the plane of. the line 3-3, Figure 1.

The motor truck A, indicated inv Figure 1, may be of any suitableconstruction and as illustrated. is provided with a chassis frame awhich has secured thereto a supplemental frame I. This supplementalframe comprises upper and lower crossrbars 2 and 3 respectively, whichare connected to each other by a pair of laterally spaced parallelupright posts 4 bolted or otherwise secured to the cross bars.'I'helower cross bar 3 may be bolted or connected in any other suitablemanner to the chassis frame a. Braces 5 are connected at their forwardend to the upper end portion of the post 4 and extend rearwardlytherefrom and have their rear ends connected in any suitable manner tothe chassis frame for maintaining the supplemental frame I in fixedrelation with thechassis frame. The intermediate portion of the crossbar 2 may be connected as shown, to the upright posts 4 by diagonallydisposed braces 6.

The supplemental frame I carries a plow'hoisting mechanism l which, inthis instance, comprises a .frame 8 pivotally connected as at 9 to' theupper end portion of the frame I to extend forwardly therefrom in a moreor less horizontal position. A plunger I0 is pivotally connected at itsupper end'to the frame 8 `in slightly spaced relation to the outer endof said frame as at II. This plunger I0 extends downwardly from theframe 6 into a cylinder I2 which is secured at its base or lower end toa support I3 `which is mounted intermediate the posts 4 and'is pivotallyconnected as at I4 to said posts in slightly spaced relation to thecross bar 3. The cylinder I2 may be connected in any suitable manner toa source of uid under pressure, not shown, as by aexible tubing I5 sothat as pressure is admitted to or permitted to flow from cylinder I2, acorresponding longitudinal movement of plunger I0 will be producedthereby for rocking the frame 3 about its pivot 9 to raise or lower theouter end of said frame. Any suitable valve means may be asso` ciatedwith the tubing I5 for controlling the flow of uid throughsaid tubinginto and out of the cylinder I2. The outer end oi' the frame 8 isprovided with a clevis I6 which carries a grab ring II in which ispositioned one end of a cable or chai-n I8 which has the other endthereof connected to a clevis I9 secured to an angle bar 20 lwhichextends across the forward portion of a supporting or push frame 2l,which carries the mold board 22. 'I'he connection of the clevis I9 withthe supporting frame is preferably such that the weight of the frame andmold board will be substantially equal at opposite sides of the clevis.

The snow plow attachment forming the sub,- ject matter of this,application, cdmprises the frame 2l for the mold board 22 which moldboard, as shown in the drawing, is of the one-way type. It is to beunderstood, however. that my novel y attachment is equally applicable byslight changes in the construction thereof to other forms of snow plowssuch,'for instance, as that'lmownl as the V-typewhereby the snow and icemay be deflected laterally to both sides of the road bed. It will be.obvious, therefore, that the frame 2l may be so constructed as to adaptthe same to other types of mold boards than that shown in the instantapplication.

The .frame 2|, as illustrated, comprises the hereinbefore mentionedangle bar 20 positioned at the forward portionA of .the frame and a pairof laterally spaced parallel bars 24 positioned at the rear portion ofthe frame. The bars 24 are secured to each other and 'to the bar 20 byend members 25 and 26. These end members 25 and 26, as shown, arecomposed of sheet metal and are inverted U-shape in cross section, saidmembers being secured to the bars 20 and 24 by electricwelding or othersuitable means. A bed plate 21 extends transversely of the frameadjacent the bar 20 and beneath the forward end portions of the endmembers 25 and 26 and is secured to said bar and members by electricwelding or other suitable means.

The supporting frame 2l is provided with a Vpair of supporting or groundshoes 29 arranged in spaced relation to each other adjacent the forwardportion thereof. 'I'hese shoes are adapted to ride upon the surface ofthe road for supporting the front end of the frame and maintaining moldboard 22 at a desired height when in use and also to relieve the plowfrom excessive wear and stra-ins incidental to its operation. Theseshoes are shown rigidly connected with the bed plate 21 and bar 20 bybolts 30. It is to be understood, however, that if desired, these shoesmay be pivotally secured to the frame to permit the shoes to morereadily ride over uneven portions of the road way.

The frame 2l is operatively connected with the supplemental frame `I bymeans of a pair of drive or thrust bars 32 which .have their rear endshingedly connected by pivotal 'bolts 33 to angle irons '34 secured tothe frame I. The thrust bars 32 extend forwardly from the pivots 33between the bars 24 ofthe frame 2l and have the forward ends thereofpivotally connected by bolts 35 or their equivalent to the inner face ofcorresponding end members 25 and 26. Each of these bars 32 is alsoadjustably connected with the frame 2I by means of a bolt 36 whichextends `through aligned holes formed in the bar and corresponding endmember 25 or 26 adjacent the rear end of said members.

Each of the frame members 25 and. 26 is provided with'a. plurality ofholes or apertures 31 at the rear end thereof for the reception of thebolt 36 whereby the corresponding thrust bar 32 may be adjusted relativeto the side member to permit the bars to be connectedwith motor vehiclesof dierent sizes or heights while maintaining frame 2| at apredetermined level. 'I'he adjustment of the bars 32 relative. to theframeJ2I provided by the bolts 36 and holes Y31 is for the purpose of sopositioning the frame that shoes 29 will engage the yroad bed throughoutthe central portionsfof the shoes irrespective of the-distance thepivotal connections 33 are maintained by the motor vehicle from the roadbed.

The mold board 22 comprises a sheet metal section 39 .which isconcave-convex in cross section vertically and is reenforced by separateflanges or ribs 40 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rearsurface of the section 'in klaterally spaced relation. The upper edge ofthe mold beard sectionr 39 may, as shown, be bent rear wardly anddownwardly to form an angular reenforciggiiange'lL To the ange 4I issecured reenforcing angle iron I6 welded or otherwise rigidly secured tothe rear face of the section,l

as shown more clearly in Figure 2.' A scraper blade l1 composed oftempered steel or equivalent material, vis rigidly securedlby' bolts orrivets 48 to the front face ofthe lower. edge of the .mold

board section 39'to permit it'to be replaced from time to time when wornor otherwise impaired,

said scraper blade being extended the .full length ofthe mold boardsection, as shown in Figure 3.-

A deilector plate 55 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured at itsforward Jend to the left hand end of the mold board section 39 toextendrearmold board ribs 40 whichas shown frs wardly therefrom and fromtop to bottom thereof in a plane substantially parallel with thelongitudinal center line ofthe machine A. The deflector plate 50 isprovidedl near its lower edge with a draft lu`g 5i which extendsforwardly therefrom and has the outer end thereof provided with anaperture 52, whereby the lugand, therefore, the snow plow, may beattached to another vehicle. Thislug 5i also serves to guide the plowover raised obstacles such as car tracks, paving blocks and the like.

The length of the mold board 22 is greater than that of the supportingframe 2l and is connected with the supporting frame in such a mannerthat it extends laterally beyond the outer sides of said frame andground shoes 29, for clearing the snow and .ice from the pavementcorresponding distances to opposite sides of the line of travel of thewheels of the truck' or other propelling mechanism, as shown in Figure3,. It will also be observed by referring to Figure 3,. that the anglebar 25 of the supporting frame is maintained in substantial parallelrelation with the mold board due to the end member 25 being of greaterlength than the opposite end member 2B of said frame.

The means for operatively connecting the mold board 22 with thesupporting frame 2| comprises, in this instance, a pair of drive links55 arranged with one link adjacent a corresponding end` o f the frame2i. These links are each pivotaliy connected to said vframe by a' pin`56 passing through aligned apertures vformed in the rear portion of thedrive link and in a pair of lugs 51 secured to the angle bar 20- inslightly spaced relationl to each other for receiving the correspondingdrive link therebetween.

Each drive link 55 extends between a pair of in Figures 1 andy 3, arearranged in slightly spaced relation to each other for the reception ofsaid link therebetween. The links are pivotally connected `with saidribs by means ofy pivotal pins 55. Each link 55 is provided with ashoulder 58 in the lower edge thereof adapted to engage the forwardlower edge of the bar 20 when the mold board is in its lowermostoperative position relative to the supporting frame 2l, as illustratedby full lines in Figure 2. The relation ofthe shoulder 55 to the pivotalpins 55 and`56v .is such that when said shoulder is in engagement withthe bar 20, the

pivotal pin 56"will be maintained in an elevated positiony relative tothe pin 55 so that the direct line or thrust betweenthe pins it and pins56' extends forwardly and upwardly from the axis of pins 55.

It is thus `evident that when the mold board 22 contacts a relativelyxed obstruction, as the same is being moved forwardly, the lower edge fof said. mold board will be carried upwardly as the links 55'swing aboutthe supporting pivots 56 carried by the supporting frame 2i and therebyliiftr the lower cutting edge of the mold board above the obstructionand permit the same `to ,pass over said obstruction.

CIn order that the'mold board and. links may be Quickly returned -totheir lowermost operative -positions, after the mold board haspassedbeyond the obstruction, I have provided each link 55 with a plunger 50,pivotally' connected thereto at one -f end by a pin 5i in a plane abovethe pivot 56 as shown in Figure 2. Each plunger 50 extends rearwardly/from the pivot 5I and has the rear end thereof extending through anaperture provided in the rear end 82 of a plunger supporting member 53which, in this instance, is a trough-likemem- ,ber secured by spot`welding or the like, to the adjacent portions of the supporting frame2l. A coil spring 5I is mounted upon each plunger 60 intermediate theend52 of the support and a nut 65 screw threaded on the plunger. a shortdistance from the pivoted end thereof. The nut 65 may be adjustedv alongthe plunger 50 for varying the tensionof the corresponding spring 5l andmay be secured in the adjusted position by a lock nut 65.

The upper longitudinal portion of the mold board 39 is supported by anadjustable brace bar mold board. The rear end of the other brace barsection 10 is pivotally connected by a bolt 'l2 to a pair of lugs I3secured to the rear portion of 'the supporting frame 2 I, as illustratedin Figures 1 andV 3, said lugs being arranged in spaced relation forreceiving the bar section therebetween. The lugs 13 are provided with aplurality of, in this instance 3, aligned holes 1I for receiving thebolt 'I2 therethrough, arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of thelugs whereby the brace bar may be connected with the supporting frame atdifferent positions, as may be required to position the mold board atthe proper angle.

In this instance, the brace bar section 69 is a tubular member, whilethe other section 10 is a cylindrical member which is slidably' receivedin thetubular member. These sections are removably vsecured together bya pin 'I6 which passes through aligned holes provided inthe barsections. y n

One of the sections as 15, as shown in Figure 2, is 'provided with aplurality of holes as 10' extending diametrically therethrough andarranged in longitudinal spaced relation with each other forregistration with` the holes as 69', pro- 'vided in the tubular section69 vwhereby the two placement of the pin when detached from the bracesection.

The front end of the brace bar 68 will always be disposed a considerabledistance above the hinge bolts 56 for the mold board and inclinesrearwardly and downwardly therefrom .to its connection with the frame2l. so as to cooperate with the drive links 55 for producing upwardmovementof the mold board 22 in the event an unusual obstacle isencountered. The 'connections between the drive links 55 and thesupporting frame 2I and mold board 22 have sulcient play therebetween topermit either end of the mold board to rise independently of the otherend so that 1f one end portion only of the mold board encounters anobstruction only that end portion of the mold board will be elevated bythe action of the drive vlink 55 connected therewith to a point wherethe obstruction is cleared.

It will now be understood that when vthe plow is being transported fromone place to another, the mold board 22 and frame 2l will be maintainedin a raised position with the shoes 29 held some distance above the roadbed by the operation of the hydraulic hoist 1 and cable I8.

When it is desired to use the plow for clearing the road bed from snowand ice, the mold board and frame 2l will be lowered by permitting theplunger I to move into the cylinder I2 until the shoes 29 contact withthe surface of the road at which time the lower edge of the cutter blade41 will assume a definite relation to said surface. This relation of thecutting edge of blade 41 with the road surface may be varied withinlimits as desired by simply removing the lock pin 16 from the brace bar68 and then adjusting the brace bar sections 69 and 10 lengthwise ofeach other. During this adjustment of the brace bar sections, the moldboard section'39 will be rocked about the pins 56' as a horizontal axisand the lower edge of the bar 41 will be moved in a direction toward orfrom the road surface depending upon the direction the mold boardsection is moved during the swinging action thereof until said blade isbrought to .the proper height after which the locking pin 16 may bereinserted in the registering holes 69' and 10' to hold the mold boardin its adjusted position.

During the plowing operation, the shoes 29 ride upon the surface of theroad, thereby relieving the cutting blade 41 and mold board fromexcessive wear and strain. When using the plow for removing a relativelythin coating of snow or light snow from the road bed, it is desirablethat the springs 64 have a relatively light tension so that if the moldboard encounters a stationary object, said mold board will readily moveupwardly to clear the object with a minimum amount of friction andvibration.

On the other hand, when removing relatively heavy snow and ice from theroad bed, it is desirable that the tension of springs 64 be increasedabove that when the plow is used in relatively light snow so as toeliminate chattering or vibratory movement of the mold board which oftenoccurs during insuflicient tension of the spring 64. It will beunderstood, however, that the increased tension of spring 64 will beinsufficient to maintain the mold board in its lowermost operativeposition with the shoulders 58 of the drive links 55 in engagement withthe bar 20 of the supporting frame when engaging a `permanentobstruction and that the mold board will readily move upwardly to clearthe obstruction due to the increased pressure normally exerted by theheavy snow and ice upon the mold board section 39, and cutting blade 41.

The structure shown and described is particularly simple, strong anddurable and it will be observed that the supporting frame 2 I` and moldboard 22 may be easily and quickly 'attached to or detached from trucksof various sizes by simply without departing from the spirit of theinvention set forth in the appended claims.

-. I claim: v

1. The combination with a snow plow mold board and a truck chassishaving a supplemental frame connected therewith, of drive meansincluding a single series of linkage elements having both forward andrearward horizontally disposed pivotal connections operativelyconnecting the mold board to the frame whereby'the mold board may swingvertically about one of said pivotal connections and has forward andrearward tilting movement independent of said vertical movement aboutthe second one of said pivotal connections, stop means associated withthe linkage elements independently of the supplemental frame 'forlimiting the downward vertical movement of the mold board to maintainthe linkage elements in an upward inclination forwardly from theirrearward pivots in all positions of the mold board, and adjustable meansconnected with the mold board for maintaining 1said mold board in apredetermined tilted posiion.

2. A device as in claim 1 having means connected with the supplementalframe for elevating the drive means and mold board.

3. In a snow plow attachment for motor vehicles, a supplementalv framerigidly secured to the front end of the vehicle, in combination with apush frame having thrust bars hinged to the supplemental frame forvertical swinging movement, said push frame being provided withroadengaging supporting elements near the outer portion thereof, a moldboard, drive links pivotally connecting the mold board and pushframe,said drive links being inclined upwardly and forwardly from the pushframe in all positions of the mold board, and additional means connectedwith the mold board for varying theangle of inclination thereofvertically.

4. In a snow plow attachment for motor vehicles, a supplemental framerigidly secured to the front end of the vehicle, in combination with apush frame having thrust bars hinged to the supplemental frame forvertical swinging movement, said push frame being provided with roadengaging supporting elements near the outer portion thereof, a moldboard, drive links pivotally connected with the mold board and wi th thepush frame, said drive links and push frame being provided with stopmeans co-acting to maintain the drive links inclined upwardly andforwardly from the push frame, and additional means connected with themold board for varying the angle of inclination thereof vertically.

5. A device as in claim 4 having means connected with the drive linksfor yieldingly urging the mold board to itslowermost position.

6. The combination with a snow plow mold board and a motor vehiclechassis,'a. push frame having road engaging supporting elements,-meanspivota11y connecting the pushframe to the vehicle chassis to permitvertical swinging movement of said push frame, means securing the moldboard to the push frame including a plurality of drive links,substantially coaxial, means pivotallyA connecting the drive links tothe mold board whereby said mold board may have a forward and rearwardtilting movement relative to the frame, separate substantially coaxialmeans pivotally connecting the drive links to the push frame wherebysaid mold board may move verl tically independently of said tiltingmovement thereof, adjustable means connected with the frame and moldboard for maintaining said mold I'board in a predetermined tiltedposition, and stop means coacting with the driving links and push framefor limiting the downward vertical movement of the mold board.

7. A device as in claim 6 having spring actuated means connected withthe drive links and push frame for yieldingly urging the mold board toits lowermost vertical` position with respect to the push frame. t l

8. In combination with a snow plow mold board and a. truck chassis, ofmeans operatively connecting the mold board to the truck chassiscomprising a push frame, means pivotally connecting the push frame tcthe vehicle chassis to permit vertical swinging movement of said pushframe, drive means including a single series of linkage elements havingboth forward and rearward horizontally disposed pivotal connectionsoperatively connecting the mold board to the push frame whereby the moldboard may swing vertically about one of said pivotal connections andrearward tilting movement independent of said vertical movement aboutvthe second one of said pivotal connections, stop means 'co-acting withthe linkage elements and push frame for limiting the downward verticalmovement of the A mold board with respect to said push frame. and

CARL H. FRIN'K.

lwith respect `to the push frame and has forward

